CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOL 8i 



be a beautiful white, a rich yellow or an orange tint, ac- 

 cording to the breed or grade of the sheep. In some in- 

 stances there is more or less banding of these colors. 

 Banding means their occurrence in bars and in alterna- 

 tions that run across the wool at right angles to the length 

 of the fibers. Such banding is not only allowable, but is 

 considered an indication that is favorable rather than 

 otherwise. Fleeces that are entirely black or mottled are 

 directly or indirectly the outcome of breeding. 



Desirable color may be secured and increased mainly 

 through selection in breeding. If wool of 'any of the 

 recognized and useful shades is desired, the aim should 

 be to breed only from sheep that carry fleeces that are 

 thus characterized. If sheep possessed of wool of differ- 

 ent colors are present in the same flock, undesirable color 

 in the wool may appear in some of the progeny, though 

 the breeding should be otherwise correct. 



Uniformity of fleece in wool — Uniformity in wool has 

 reference to a similarity in the wool fibers as distributed 

 over the body. It has reference to fineness of fiber, to 

 length of fiber, strength of fiber and to density in the 

 same. Complete uniformity in any of the senses named 

 is not attainable; nevertheless, in all of these respects it 

 is much more nearly approximated in some breeds and 

 grades of sheep than in others, and the same is true of 

 individuals of the same breed. 



When the wool is nearly equally fine at the should- 

 ers, ribs, hips, rumps and thighs, it is said to be uniform 

 as to fineness. When it is nearly equally long at the 

 shoulders, back, sides, hips and thighs, it is said to be 

 uniform as to length. When it is about equally strong on 

 all the parts named, it is said to be uniform in strength of 

 fiber. When it is nearly equally dense and elastic at the 

 shoulders, loin and rump, it is said to be uniform in 

 density. 



The variations in uniformity of fleece are more ac- 

 centuated usually in breed than in individuals of a breed. 



